Meet the Team: Summer

Name: Summer 刘春平

Hometown: Guilin, Guangxi, China 广西桂林

Job title: Student Activities Manager 学生活动主管

We are happy to introduce Summer, CLI's Student Activities Manager!

Q: What value do you hope to bring to CLI through your new position as the Student Activities Manager?

通过你的学生活动主管的新职位，你希望给CLI带来什么?

A: I hope to show CLI students the parts of Guilin that you can’t see on the internet or read about in a book. I will give students the opportunity to touch local culture and experience the “real” Guilin. For example: to understand famous people throughout Guilin’s long history, experience local Guilin culture in rural areas, enjoy all four beautiful seasons of the year, and taste authentic Chinese cuisine. Of course, the most important aspect is to give students the opportunity to practice their Chinese outside of the classroom.

我希望能够带领CLI的学生们感受到除了常规旅游之外的桂林。带领他们去感受到桂林的本土文化。比如：了解桂林的名人历史、体验农村的乡土文化、领略桂林四季的美景、品尝地道的美食。当然，最重要的是，让学生的中文能够学以致用。

Q:  What is your favorite Chinese holiday? Why?

你最喜欢的中国节日是哪一个? 为什么?

A: My favorite Chinese holiday is Tomb Sweeping Festival. It is my favorite because I have the chance to worship my ancestors, and I believe this is very important. Tomb Sweeping day is every year during the spring; the scenery in Guilin is particularly beautiful during this time. My family and I can go out walking in the early spring, worship our ancestors, wrap Zongzi (a traditional Chinese snack consisting of sticky rice, various nuts, dried fruit and meat, all wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed) and enjoy fresh baby bamboo shoots (common in Chinese cooking). This is a simple holiday that combines family, food and the beautiful scenery of Guilin. That is why Tomb Sweeping day is my favorite holiday.

我最喜欢清明节，因为可以去祭拜过世的亲人。清明节是在每年的春天，这个时候的风景非常的美。一家人可以一起出去踏青，拜祭祖先，也可以亲手包粽子，还可以品尝到最新鲜美味的竹笋。一个简单的节日，却融合了亲情、美食和美景，是我最喜欢的节日。

Q: If you could take a student out to any restaurant in Guilin, which one would it be and what would you recommend he or she eat? Why?

如果你带学生去桂林的一家餐馆吃饭，你会选择哪一家? 你会推荐哪个菜? 为什么?

A: If I could take a student to any restaurant in Guilin, I would take them to Small Southern Country (小南国). It’s not too far from CLI and I recommend they eat the hot and sour beef soup. This dish has very authentic flavors familiar to locals in Guilin. Guilin cuisine combines many aspects of the eight famous cuisines in China, especially Hunan’s. Hot and sour soup is tart and spicy, and is a great starter for any meal. The beef is also very fresh. This dish is especially popular among girls.

我会选择桂林市三里店七星区的小南国，推荐酸汤牛肉。因为这是很地道的桂林味道。桂林菜在不同程度上融合了中国八大菜系的风味，尤其桂林靠近湖南省，所以桂林菜是在湘菜口味上的升华。酸辣汤，就是酸酸辣辣的，喝起来很开胃。里面的牛肉也很鲜嫩。女孩子尤其喜欢这道菜

Q: What do you think is the most interesting place to visit in or around Guilin?

你觉得桂林或桂林周边地区最有意思的旅游景点是什么?

A: I think the most interesting place to visit around Guilin is the Longsheng Rice Terraces. At the rice terraces, you can experience the magic and beauty of nature, as well as a variety of ethnic minorities. There are four different minority cultures that live in the rice terraces. They and their ancestors have been cultivating the terraces for hundreds of years and have had very little contact with the outside world. At the terraces you can see what a simple agricultural society is like, and experience the tranquility and beauty of nature.

我觉得是龙胜梯田。因为在那儿，可以感受到大自然的神奇，以及各种少数民族风情。在龙脊梯田上，住着四个不同的少数民族，他们在那世世代代地耕种，几乎很少与外界接触。所以在那里，可以看到最原始的农耕生活，体验最宁静的乡村美。

Q: What is the most valuable thing you have learned at CLI?

CLI带给你最宝贵的是什么?

A: The most valuable thing I have learned at CLI is “knowledge.” I have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and languages. Every time I speak with a student I feel like I am learning. CLI students often give the teachers and CLI Team a “Western Culture Class” to teach us about their home countries and their personal lives. Some of the classes include: Mexican culture, Lebanese culture, Israeli culture as well as classes about cuisine from all over the world! Through opportunities like these, I can continuously learn new things and expand my horizons. CLI is like a miniature version of the world; by looking through the “window” of CLI, I can learn about and understand the outside world.

最宝贵的是知识。在CLI, 我可以学习到不同国家的文化、语言。每一次和学生交流的过程，就是我学习的过程。学生常常给我们CLI的 老师们开授文化课，比如：墨西哥文化、黎巴嫩文化、以色列文化等等，同时，还有饮食文化课。所以在这样的过程中，我也可以不断地学习到新的知识。CLI就是一个缩小版的世界，通过CLI这个窗口，我可以了解外面更大的世界

Q: What is your favorite Chinese idiom?

你最喜欢的成语是哪一个?

A: My favorite Chinese idiom is 船到桥头自然直 (Chuandao qiaotou ziran zhi; When the boat approaches the pier, it will go straight with the current – everything will be alright). Why? This idiom has a very positive message. It tells us not to worry too much about things that have yet to happen, and in the end, everything will work itself out. As long as we act practically in the face of difficulties, we will always find a way to overcome.

船到桥头自然直。为什么呢？ 因为这个成语传达了一个很积极的信息。就是不要太过于担心还没有发生的事情，因为到后面，总会有一个好的结果的。所以只要脚踏实地的做好眼前的事情，就算再大的困难在眼前，我们也总是有方法克服的。

Q: If you could visit any foreign country, which one would it be? Why?

如果你有机会去国外旅游，你会去哪个国家? 为什么?

A: If I could visit any country in the world, it would be Greece. In college I read lots of books on Greek Mythology and I was mesmerized by the stories inside. I hope one day to have the opportunity to go there and see for myself the ruins of ancient Greece’s sacred temples. I also really want to see the Mediterranean Sea, which Greece is situated next to. I love the beautiful Island of Santorini, the blue sky and vast open sea; all of this coupled with Greece’s infamous blue and white seaside architecture, I can imagine it is like being in heaven.

希腊。大学的时候，我就拜读了很多希腊神话，对里面的故事如痴如醉。希望有机会能亲眼去看看那里的很多神圣的寺庙。除此之外，我对地中海也情有独钟。而希腊就坐落在地中海河畔。美丽的圣托里尼岛，蓝蓝的天空和大海，再配上蓝白色的建筑物，仿佛天堂一样的感觉。